Get 50% off ALL @Kobo Titles! Hurry! Sale Ends Jan 31st. Promo Code JAN1650 ~ @DonnaFaz

I know I have some readers who use a Kobo e-reader, so I want to let you know that Kobo is offering you 50% off any ebooks you buy between January 28th and January 31st. Choose your books and at check-out, use promo code JAN1650.

So… what are you waiting for? Pop over to Kobo and start choosing your books!

Get The Most Out of @Kobo #PubTip #AmWriting @KoboWritingLife

Lovely sales maps are just 1 FAB feature at Kobo Writing Life

I see regular sales of my independently published books in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and about a dozen other countries each month. But thanks to Kobo Writing Life and Kobo.com, I have sold books to readers in brand new countries that I would never have reached, including Nigeria and Qatar.

Tracy Nesdoly, VP of Communications at Kobo, lends some insight about the success of the company:

Get the most out of Kobo; read more on Kobo Writing Life Blog.

5 Ways To Sharpen Your Memory by Donna Fasano @DonnaFaz

Do you forget where you put your car keys? Or the name of the person you just met five minutes ago? Stay calm! It happens to all of us. As we age, our brains tend to shrink and not work as well. But there are things you can do to boost your hippocampus—the part of the brain responsible for short-term memory.

1. Learn new things—Memorize quotes. Balance your checkbook without a calculator. Take dancing or violin or piano lessons. Learn a new language. Challenging yourself will help keep your memory strong.
2. Eat flavonoids—Consuming dark-colored berries, grapes, beets, dark chocolate and cocoa will improve brain function. A Harvard study showed that people who drank two cups of hot chocolate a day for a month had better memory performance than those who did not. 
3. Move—When you work out hard enough to break a sweat, you grow new brain cells in your hippocampus. How? Increased blood flow and a crucial protein called BDNF. Spending thirty minutes doing aerobic exercise and fifteen minutes of strength training four times a week is a great way to sharpen our memory.
4. Feed your brain—DHA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish that can increase the size of your hippocampus. The trouble is, you can’t get enough from your diet. So buy a supplement. Take 1 gram of this super brain food every day.
5. Decrease blood sugar and blood pressure—A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine states that elevated blood sugar puts you at a greater risk for Alzheimer’s. And even borderline blood pressure increases your risk of stroke and makes your brain sluggish. See your doctor to have your blood sugar and bloom pressure levels tested.

Here’s an extra tip: stress can stimulate chemical changes in the brain that can lead to memory problems. Practice deep breathing or other methods that calm your mind and your level of frustration.

Following these simple suggestions will help you sharpen your memory at any age!

Creamy Butternut Squash #Recipe by @DonnaFaz (and 99¢ ebook deal!)

I have never cooked a fresh butternut squash and really wanted to try. So I found a recipe that looked delicious, and after a little bit of fiddling, all I can say is...YUM! This is the perfect winter dish. It's hearty, filling, and just a teeny bit spicy. (If you don't like spicy, leave out the red pepper flakes.) Toss together a green salad and slice up some fresh, crusty bread, and you will have a meal that everyone will remember! 

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH with SAGE 

PASTA SAUCE

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large shallot, diced

1 medium/large butternut squash, peeled, diced

6 or 7 large sage leaves, chopped, or 1 tablespoon dried

pinch of red pepper flakes

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1/2 to 1 cup coconut milk

1 cup cooked cannellini beans, rinsed, drained

salt & fresh cracked pepper, to taste

16 oz pasta of your choice

toasted, chopped walnuts or pine nuts, to serve

1. Slice the butternut squash in half, remove seeds and cut squash into 1/2″ cubes (the smaller the cubes are the quicker they will cook).

2. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat, add shallots and sauté a 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add butternut squash and seasonings, cook another 4 minutes stirring occasionally. Add broth, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until squash is softened, about 8-10 minutes. Let cool a few minutes. 

3. Add coconut milk and beans to the pot. Using an immersion blender or food processor/blender, blend until smooth or desired consistency (a little chunky is ok). If using a food processor or blender you may need to do it in two batches. Taste for seasoning. Add back to the pot and heat before serving if necessary. If the sauce is too thick, thin with a little more vegetable broth or a little more coconut milk, your choice. 

4. Cook pasta using package directions. Drain cooked pasta and coat with sauce. Top with toasted nuts and fresh cracked pepper.

Serves 4 – 6

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January 6th through the 13th, you can get the book that USA Today calls "heart-wrenching" and "touching" for the amazing price of 99¢. 

AN ALMOST PERFECT CHRISTMAS is available for Kindle, Nook, iBook, Kobo, and Google Play.

"...heart-wrenching, sweet, touching, and requires a box of tissues." ~USA Today

"Wonderful, simply wonderful!" ~Em and M Reviews

"OMG! This book is amazing." ~D & S Book Blog